Polish Advocate Kazimierz Lukomski

December 20, 1991|By Kenan Heise.

Kazimierz Lukomski, 71, former vice president of the Polish American Congress and for 20 years head of its Polish Affairs Commission, led efforts in the U.S. to encourage freedom and democracy in Poland and efforts to encourage cooperation between the Polish-American and the Jewish-American communities.

Earlier this year, he received the Polish-American Business Foundation`s Man of the Decade Award after being nominated for the $20,000 honor by popular vote.

A resident of Niles, he died Wednesday in Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

``He was a true coalition builder,`` Eva Wierznska, a friend, said. ``He never stopped promoting the concept of cooperation with other immigrant groups. He was a co-founder of Polish-Jewish dialogue and a tireless advocate of inter-ethnic unity and cooperation.``

Mr. Lukomski was exiled from Poland after the Communist takeover in 1945. After arriving in the Chicago area, he went to work for Papermate and later for Barton Brands Ltd.

Among the events he helped coordinate was Black Ribbon Day, a yearly protest recalling the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact that led to the enslavement of Eastern Europe. He was a driving force behind the Committee in Support of the Polish Democratic Opposition.

``There was no other Polish-American leader of whom I am aware who was more respectfully listened to by members of the Jewish community than Kazimierz Lukomski,`` said David Roth, director of the American Jewish Committee`s Institute for American Pluralism. ``He and I were co-chairs of the National Polish American-Jewish American Council. It has been going for 11 years and played a significant role in building support between the communities.``

He was a past president of the Mutual Aid Association of the New Polish Immigration.

Survivors include three grandchildren and two sisters.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Malec Funeral Home, 6000 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Monday in St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church, 8301 N. Harlem Ave., Niles.